Mu, Lemur + Ableton Live Integration, Revealed – and Other Lemur Sequencers

We already knew that one Next Big Thing for the Lemur – the specialized multimedia multi-touch controller – would be Ableton Live integration. Having teased that coming functionality, JazzMutant has now revealed the name (“Mu”), as well as a video showing what the features look like. What’s funny to me is that the result is a bit like what I’d imagine Live itself might look like if it were designed for multi-touch screens. That’s a real consideration for all music software UIs, given the direction of computer hardware. But in the meantime, with choices in multi-touch laptops scarce (makers like HP and Lenovo make a handful of models) and quality scarce, the Lemur hangs onto its niche. It comes with a solid set of tools for users to make their own layouts, it has the reliability of wires (which the iPad will lack, since it has no Ethernet port), and dedicated OSC functionality. While it may come to a surprise to those eagerly anticipated the iPad’s arrival next month, the Lemur’s fans are largely unswayed. [more: Create Digital Music]

Great Online Music Sequencers

Ah, Lazy Sunday afternoon. It’s wet and rainy out, so what to do? How about making some music with some fun online sequencers. Snag a comfy chair at Starbucks and kill a few hours making music on your laptop. Perfect!

What I love about these is I can quickly and easily come up with something cool musically, while I find trying something similar in a DAW to be so much more work. Once you’ve become addicted to these, the trick is getting your DAW to work like them while infinitely opening up your palette of sounds. I haven’t quite figured it out yet, but getting closer. FL Studio used to be this inspiring, but over time it lost that fun factor for me. [more: Audio Geek Zine]